Machine for making two compartment unitary bag



MACHINE FOR MAKING TWO COMPARTMENT UNITARY BAG Nov. 17, 1970 w. A.BODOLAY ET AL 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed July 8, 1968 -Emdmluy 1mmA-E:1d|:11u r I .51; l-Lgn M Wi Nov. 17, 1970 w. A. BODOLAY ETAL$540,183

MACHINE FOR MAKING TWO COMPARTMENT UNITARY BAG I Filed July 8, 1968 3Sheets-Sheet 2 51:51:11? in. M.E' ital-my" Willi-um A-E1= 5.51m

INVENTORS Nov; 17, 1970 w. A. BODQLAY ETAL 3,540,183

MACHINE FOR MAKING TWO COMPARTMENT' UNITARY BAG 3 Sheets-Sheets FiledJuly 8, 1968 United States Patent Olfice 3,540,183 Patented Nov. 17,1970 Filed July 8, 1968, Ser. No. 743,140 Int. Cl. B65h 61/20 U.S. Cl.53-14 1 Claim ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE This invention provides adevice that may be attached to a machine foi' making bags from acontinuous web as described in the United States Letter Patent No.2,877,- 609, patented on Mar. 17, 1959. This invention is an improvementand modification for making bags in that the bag made by the deviceherein is a two compartment bag instead of the unitary type. The UnitedStates Letter Patent No. 3,319,538 provides a method of making a onecompartment bag from a continuous web. In this invention the webmaterial has been stored on the roll in a double fold. When it comes offthe supply roll, it is folded by the within machine so that there arefour layers of material. There are effectively two open pouches at thetop of the web as it vertically passes down the machine from the supplyroll. The bottom of the web has a complete fold. The novelty arises fromthe arrangement of the header label and the placing of it into one ofthe pouches formed by the double layer. This header label is sealed inthat pouch preferably with a fold. This pouch is then closed and thepouch that has been formed by the fold adjoining this pouch is openedand the material to be packaged is inserted therein. Subsequent to thisoperation, the upper portion of the pouch is sealed. The bag is formedsimilar to the operation of Pat. No. 3,319,- 538 and the filled bag withthe header label and the filled material is cut from the web as acompleted package. The header label is in a distinctive compartment awayfrom the material that is packaged, and is locked therein because of themiddle layers of material between it and the subject matter that hasbeen filled in the adjoining pouch.

This invention is concerned with a novel attachment to the machine formaking bags from a continuous web as described in the United StatesLetter Patent No. 2,877,- 609, patented on Mar. 17, 1959. In thatparticular machine the ultimate bag that is produced has a bag with asingle compartment. No facilities were provided in the bag for a headerhaving the printed indicia or instructions as to the contents of thebag.

Attempts have been made for printing on the web material itself. Whilethe results obtained in printing on the material have been satisfactory,certain types of bags such as those containing prepackaged hardwareitems, prepackaged candy, prepackaged foods, such as fruits and items ofa bulky nature, are too heavy when hung on pegs. The film is not strongenough to support the weight by itself without a stiffener label.

Another procedure has been to attach to the external portion of the bag,a stiffener header, usually by staples.

Other attempts have been made at heat sealing the header to the bag. Onthe header has been printed the indicia, or advertising media.

A new concept has been developed with the machine as aforementioned andby the attachment which is described in our Pat. No. 3,3 19,538 whereinthe header is inserted in a separate compartment within the bag,independent from and not in contact with the contents of the bag. One ofthe problems that our attachment in Pat. No. 3,319,538 has failed toovercome is the fact that when certain types of material to be insertedin the bag is bulky the bag becomes bottom heavy. The bag loses itsshape and rigidity.

The principal object of this invention is to provide an apparatus thatwill, on one machine, form the bag as described in Pat. No. 2,877,609,form a second compartment in the bag, behind the first compartment,instead of on top of it, insert within the rear compartment the headerhaving the printed indicia thereupon, seal the bag so that the machineitself completes the entire operation without the necessity of humanhands other than the person who operates the machine.

It is another object of the within invention to provide a bag havingseparate compartments for the instruction or advertising indicia whereinthe indicia cannot be torn from the bag.

It is still an additional object of the within invention to provide amachine that can insert a header or a label made of many different typesof material resilient or stiff, without changing the basic structure oroperation of the machine described in Pat. No. 2,877,609, except thatthe web is folded on the roll source, and becomes a double fold on themachine.

It is still a further object of the within invention to provide amachine that can manufacture a bag having separate compartments, whereinin one compartment is located the label stiifener or header and in theother compartment in front of it is located the contents material suchas hardware, etc., thus preventing pilferage from the bag by tearing theheader or label from the bag.

It is still a further object of the within invention to provide anapparatus that can insert in the bag, in perfect alignment, a header ordisplay label.

It is yet an additional object of the within invention to provide a bagthat is completely covered to the extent that the header or advertisingindicia is located within the bag; and there is no chance for anyone tobecome injured from being cut on the corners of the cardboard or thestaples, thus providing a much safer bag.

There is still a further object of the within invention to provide ameans on the machine as described in Pat. No. 2,877,609 for inserting anidentification display instruction card, label or premium coupon withinthe rear compartment of the bag prior to packaging (insertion of theitems to be carried in the bag.)

In order to comprehend the within invention, it is necessary that acomplete understanding be had of Pat. No. 2,877,609. In the said patenta continuous web is folded and sealed so that a pouch is formed. Specialcuts are made near the top of the pouch. The ingredients, or items thatare to be inserted in the bag are then placed therein, and the bag issealed along a horizontal surface, and the cuts are completed along thevertical edges. The machine in Pat. No. 2,877,609 folds a single sheetof web.

In the within invention, the web is a folded double sheet as hereinafterexplained.

For a more detailed description of the within invention, reference ismade to the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of a schematic diagram of the machineshowing the folding and forming of the Web passing through the machine.

FIG. 2 is a view looking down on the view of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a front elevational view of a typical package that has beenproduced by the said machine.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view with emphasis upon the bottom of the card(header) magazine showing the stack of the unfolded cards including thesuction cup removing the lowermost card.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the double folded web, showing thevarious operations to the web by the machine at the various stationsuntil the finished two compartment bag is produced from the web by themachine.

FIG. 6 is a diagrammatic view showing the forming of the header label asit is fed, folded and inserted into its finished position at the rear ofthe folded web.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing how a card or header is folded andprepared for entry into the Web guides (prior to insertion within therear compartment of the double folded web).

FIG. 8 is an exploded view in perspective of the header stack, suctioncup and folder.

FIG. 9 is a view looking down on the view of FIG. 5 showing the variousstations of operations taking place along the double folded web and itspath through the machine.

FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view of the suction cup assembly as shownin FIG. 4.

FIG. 11 is an exploded perspective view of the tripping and actuatingmechanism for controlling the motion of the header.

FIG. 12 is an exploded cross section view of the bag pouch, upperportion, during the filling operation of the material or contents in thebag.

FIG. 13 is an exploded view in cross-section of the completed packageshowing the header and the seals with the material inserted therein.

FIG. 14 is a perspective view of the folded roll of web material on thesupply shaft.

The concept of Pat. No. 2,877,609 to take a web that is on a roll andfold the web in half as it goes through the machine, then seal upsections of the web vertically and horizontally and then cut the webremains the basic idea of this invention.

However, the web is a double web in that it is folded at the time itcomes off of the supply roll 3.

Reference is made to FIG. 5 wherein the roll of the continuous web isindicated as the film supply roll 3. The web 3 is mounted on the supportshaft 5. The web dancing bar 12 controls the unwinding of the supplyreel for web 3. The vertical guide rolls 4 are mounted just forward ofthe web supply roll 3. They control and assist in the folding of the web3. Just forward of the vertical guide rolls 4 is the station in whichthe card folding frame 9 is located. Between the folder 9 and the rolls4 is the station which permits the cutting of the hole or punch 24 inthe web 3. A mechanical punch (not shown) is employed to make the hole24 at position a in FIG. 5.

The folder 9 is a flat piece of metal having a diagonal truncated bottomportion as shown in FIG. 5. It is also shown clearly in the explodedview of FIG. 8. Adjacent to the folder 9 is the supply of headers orlabels 7. The headers or labels 7 will have printing or cut outs as thesituation requires, namely the advertising media or instructioninformation for the items that are to be ultimately packaged. There isalso located midway between the holes 8 of the header a perforated meansso that the folder 9 folds the header easily as will be hereinafterexplained. The headers or labels 7 are located within a magazine whichhas the sides 11 as shown in the view of FIG. 8.

4 The magazine is square shaped in cross-section and rectangular alongits outer surfaces, thus permitting a stack of header cards 7 to belocated therein and to be controlled through the opening as can be seenjust forward of the suction cup 15.

The suction cup 15 has a suction cup mouth 17. There is a vacuum supplyline 16 which enables the suction or drawing of the air causing a vacuumeffect to take place through the mouth 17 in the suction cup 15. Thevacuum or drawing of the air effect controls the positioning of theheader or label 7. The header guide 19 consists of two fiat membershaving separated concave surfaces at its upper end portion proximate tothe position of the folder 9. This arrangement can be seen in the viewof FIG. 7. As can be seen in the view of FIG. 7, part of the headerguide 19 is located within the web at 28. The folded film web 2 issurrounding the lower portion of the header guide 19. A mouth 18 of thefolded web 2 can be clearly seen in the view of FIG. 7.

As stated there is, in the header 7, a hole or slot punch 8. This cantake various shapes depending upon the requirements. Along the web 2 arethe horizontal or header seals 13 of the web 2 as can be seen in theview of FIG. 5. There is a slot or cut between the seals in the verticalposition.

The bag is pulled along the stations in the machine and the bag isformed with the top at the bottom. Reference is made to the view of FIG.5; it can be seen along the further stations at b that the header 7 hasbeen inserted in the rear compartment of the bag between sheets 2a and2b as the bag is formed after sealing and cutting.

As stated this insertion is different from Pat. No. 2,877,- 609 in thatthe web 2 comprises of a folded sheet 2a, a middle sheet 217 and a frontsheet 2c, all of which are formed by folding a folded web.

In FIG. 5 the areas a, b, c, d and e indicate the various positions ofthe web as the bag is formed. Area at is the first station where thedouble film web 3 is folded. At station a, a hole punch is made asindicated by the numeral 24. At the next station b which is the secondposition of the double folded web 3, the insertion of the header card 7is made between the films 2a and 2b and as soon as the folder 9withdraws, the seal 13 is made just above the fold of the insertedheader or label 7. This horizontal seal 13 is similar to the seals thatare shown in Pat. No. 3,319,538. The seal herein prevents the materiallocated in the front compartment from moving above the printing orindicia which is on the header label. See FIG. 3. When this operation iscompleted, the web 3 moves to the next station 0.

At station c, the header card or label 7 is already located within therear compartment of the double folded web between film 2a and 2b. Thevertical sealers then come into action. These are the same type ofsealers that are in Pats. No. 2,877,609 and No. 3,319,538. Verticalseals 13a are then made and the slots 34 are simultaneouslycut. Whilethe sealing and cutting is necessary, it is not claimed to be the newand novel features of this invention of sealers and the cutters are notdescribed in detail. Reference may be had to Pat. No. 2,877,609 for afurther explanation. The controlling mechanism for bringing the sealersinto position at station 0 is similar to that of the patentaforementioned. At station d the web is opened by the bag mouth openers25, details of which are described in the aforementioned patent.Contents 27, which in this instance are ball bearings, are then droppedinto the pouch opening 18 between film sheets 2b and 2c forward of theheader label 7 for delivery of the web 3 to the last station e.

While still at station d (as is described in the aforementioned patent)the seals are shown by numeral 13, 13a and 13b. The horizontal seal 13bwhich is shown at station e is started at station d. There are twofunctions at station a, the filling of the contents and the sealing ofthe top of the bag a 13b. The web 3 then moves to the next station at e,the sealers then make 13b release at this station and the final cut atthe top of the bag takes place.

The finished bag is shown in the view of FIG. 3. The area in which thecontents 27 are filled is indicated by the numeral 6. The contents 27,which are ball bearings, are shown within the bag between film sheets 2band 2c. The punch hole or opening 8 is located within the upper portionof the bag wherein the hole punch 24 in the film web 3 is also located,and wherein the slot or punch in the header 7 is located andsubstantially aligned with the hole punch 24 in the film 3. The header 7is located between film sheets 2a and 2b.

In the view of FIG. 1 is shown the general arrangement of the machine.The numeral 1 is the outline of the machine frame which is substantiallythe same as that described in the Pat. No. 2,877,609. A folded endlessweb is indicated by the numeral 2. It has already been stated that thesingle folded web 3 is on a roll which is mounted on the film rollsupport shaft 5. Film web dancing bar roller 12 can be seen more clearlyin the view of FIG. 1. There are two separate bar rollers 12; one dancesin a vertical plane approximately even with the height of the roll; theother is mounted stationary above the first one so that the singlefolded web 3 is then passed downwardly toward the vertical guide roll 4.It has already been stated that the insertion of the header 7 takesplace at station b. At station b is located the folder actuating aircylinder 10, the folder itself 9, and the header magazine 11.

Reference is made to the view of FIG. 9. The hole punch mechanism 20 isshown by the schematic diagram in FIG. 9. This is a conventionalpunching mechanism that is timed to move and cut out the web in apredetermined shape while the web is at position a. The details ofdescribing how the punching mechanism is timed are not explained sincethe timing is done in a conventional manner.

The header lock-in sealer bar 26 is located at station b. This is themechanism that causes the seal 13 to be made as shown in the view ofFIG. 5 at station b. This is the same seal that is described in the Pat.No. 3,319,538. This is the seal that prevents the contents in the bagfrom moving over the indicia on the header 7, and is the seal thatmaintains the contents 27 withing the area 6 in the bag. While theheader 7 is located with the rear compartment in the bag, the sealer 26does not seal the header to the bag, and the header has some movementwithin its own compartment. The header 7 is only positioned by the sealsand the fold.

Vertical seals are made by the side sealer in positions 14 and 21. Thereare indicated schematically in the view of FIG. 9. They are the sameside sealers that are em ployed in the concept of the original machinedescribed in Pat. No. 2,877,609.

In order to make the bag as small as possible, the horizontal seal whichstarts sealing at station d and completes the operation at station 2 (asshown in FIG. 9 and indicated by the schematic diagram 35) is locatedslightly beneath the upper edges of the double folded web 2. This issimilar to the sealing operation in the Pat. No. 3,319,- 538. As aresult of this sealing taking place below the edges of the web, asalvage material or waste material 22 is produced after the last bag hasbeen removed or cut from station e as shown in FIG. 5.

The salvage strip 22 is removed from the machine in various ways; butsince this invention is not concerned with it, it may be stated that itis waste material.

After the machine has been set up and the web has been placed inposition, as shown in FIG. 5, an opening 24 is punched at station a inthe double folded web 2. While that punching is taking place, a suctioncup 15 is located beneath the bottom stack of header cards or labels 7.A vacuum is created in the line 16 through the mouth 17 sufficientlystrong to draw one header 7 from beneath the bottom magazine 11. Themotion is in the direction of the arrows. The cardboard or header 7 ispulled down from beneath the stack of headers 7 located in the magazine11 and pulled in the direction of the horizontal arrows as shown on FIG.8 to a position just below and beneath the folder 9. By this time, theweb 2 with the punched opening 24 is now located at station b. Actuatingdevice 10 then forces the folder 9 into contact with the header 7. Sincethe header 7 has a perforated portion as shown by the dotted lines, inthe view of FIG. 5, the folder 9 causes a fold to take place in theheader 7 along the dotted line so that each side thereof is wrappedaround he folder 9 as shown in the view of FIG. 7. As the folder 9continues downwardly under the actuation of 10, the header 7 is causedto be inserted within the mouth 19 and to the bottom of the folded web 2between 2a and 2b.

The folder 9 is returned to its original position awaiting the nextcycle. Guides 19 remain as shown in FIG. 7 extending somewhat into theopening of the mouth 18 of the folded web 2 between 2a and 2b. Once thefolder 9 has returned sufficiently to clear the seal area, the sealingoperating along the horizontal seal 13 at station b takes place. Thesealer 26 comes into contact with the web, seals both sides of thefolded web 2 so that the folder header 7 is now located within the newlyformed rear compartment of the folded web 2. The double folded web 2 isthen ready to move to the next station 0. At station 0, sealer position14 and 21 make the seals and the cuts as indicated by the vertical seals13a and the cuts 34 (as shown in the view of FIG. 5). The double foldedweb 2 then goes to the next position at station d. At station a, the bagmouth openers 25 come into operation and te folded web 2 which has beensealed on all sides except the top as shown in the view of FIG. 5 isspread apart; the contents, in this instance, ball bearings 27, areplaced therein. The sealer 34 comes into operation and seals near thetop of the bag at 13b as the folded web rides from station d to statione. At station e, the final sealing and cutting (performed by the sealer35) takes place and the bag is finished, completed, packed, and appearsas shown in FIG. 3.

The sealing and cutting are done simultaneously by 35 as the web ridesfrom station d to station e. While each operation of the web at stationsa, b, c, d and e have been described, the operation at a is going onwhile the operation as described is also going on at b, c, d and e atthe same time. It can readily be understood that with all of theseoperations taking place on the web as it rides from position to positionintermittently, that time is saved, and that a great deal of packagingcan be done in very little time without the use of human hands.

So far the attachment itself has been described. FIG. 11 shows how theattachment itself that operates the header mechanism is connected to themachine described in the Pat. No. 2,877,609. This is explained in Pat.No. 3,319,338.

A complete cycle of ca'm shaft 31a obviously controls the timing to thevarious stations as already described. All of the timing to the variousstations are interrelated because of the cam shaft 31a. The cam shaft 40has a direct timing relation to the shaft 31a, as stated in Pat. No.3,319,538.

We claim:

1. The method of forming a two compartment bag having a separate frontcompartment and a separate rear compartment and inserting a headerstiffener label in one compartment of said bag, comprising the steps ofproviding a source of a folded web having a pair of open edges on oneside and a fold at the other side, folding said web again so that a newfold is at the bottom and the original folded side is at the top in thesame plane as the original open edges, vertically sealing the folded webat a predetermined position, placing a header label of proper sizebetween the folded edge and the unfolded edges of the double folded web,inserting the header label between the top folded side and the inneredge aforesaid, sealing horizontally the front and rear compartments ata predetermined distance below the original folded side and edges,filling the front compartment between the inner edge and the outer edgeof said web with subject matter to be packaged and above the aforesaidhorizontal seal, horizontally sealing the four layers of film together ashort distance below the top of the original fold and open edges abovethe stiifener label and the packaged subject matter.

8 References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 5/1967 Bodolay et al 5328 XU.S. Cl. X.R.

